Scenarios of the future European Union suggest that Europe will be part of a more globalised world economy, and will build even stronger relationships among neighbouring countries. It will have dense urban areas and a mutated climate. People’s lives will be transformed by breakthroughs in energy, transport and communication technologies. The transport sector in these forecasts will have to satisfy a greater demand for mobility. At the same time it will have to find solutions in order address its negative externalities, which affect the environment, the economy and the society.
The Trans European Network of Transport (TEN-T) and the Pan-European Transport Corridors are defined as key instruments in order to achieve the economic growth and social integration within the EU political map. They are of a crucial importance when implementing EU enlargement policies towards neighbouring countries. The networks of transport and communication will further develop relations with EU neighbouring countries and will assist them in achieving most advanced standards.
Corridor Eight is one of the ten “Pan European Corridors of Transport”, based on the trace of an antic roman corridor, “La Via Egnatia” (Fasolo. M. 2003). When taking in consideration the to date reports of the civil works, services, and the main operating indicators of the Corridor Eight as a part of Pan European Transport Corridors, the following may be observed:
Corridor Eight it is not yet operational in all modes of transport and services along all its length and area. There are no railway links in different parts of it, while there is not high operational performance of the existing roads and highways. Consequently it does not fulfil its mission to enhance the movement of people, goods, information and experiences in all forms of transport from Adriatic and Ion Seas in the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. It does not therefore link societies, natural resources and economies between two peninsulas and Euro-Asian region.
Corridor Eight does not offer the necessary capacity and contemporary standards to afford flows of traffic for people, horizontal and vertical signallers, emergency situations and electricity black out situations, while there are not alternative electricity resources along its segments of roads, railways, seaports, etc. There are not clear demonstrations to satisfy a safe, secure, and healthy transport services along the area.
Taking in consideration,
• the conclusion that corridors of transport as spatial planed parts of the territory are confirmed to be effective tools for development and social integration between countries ;
• the fact that international transport infrastructure realities are demonstrating to be competitive and complementary and of high standard service ;
• that up to now regional and geopolitical realities has not been in favour of the Balkans;
• that the future transport will be based on achieving goals of being clean, safe, secure, healthy and cost effective ;
• that the society of countries along Corridor are clearly defined towards EU integration, and that being part of EU means obligation and standards must be achieved;
• that in a near future Albania, FYROM (Macedonia) will be part of EU political map:
The following research questions are addressed in the study:
– Could countries like Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, develop sustainable transport along corridors of transport and their networks in order to be more competitive and complementary one among TEN –T and Pan-European Transport Corridors and areas?
– What policies should be pursued and what strategies should be drawn while building corridors of transport infrastructure as a functional part of TEN-T and Pan-European transport corridors networks. How can those countries offer a comfortable, safe, healthy, secure transport to EU citizens as well as a multitude of choices in means of transport along Corridor Eight countries?
– What partnerships must be raised to face the challenge of sustainable corridors of transport?
– What policy should be pursued to turn corridors of transport into corridors of social integration and economic growth?
– Could we, and which are the instruments to build a state of wellbeing along the corridors of infrastructure, beyond the political, natural, ethnic, religious and cultural borders, aiming towards walking local, achieving global !
The theory and conceptual approach to the transportation corridors will be presented by this study, to highlight social and economical benefits of transport activity as well as the consequences coming of it and regarding human activity, environment, bio natural diversities and global warming along corridors area.
The presentation of the status of both: the Transnational European Network of Transport (TEN-T), as well as that of the Pan European Corridors of Transport in regard to the future sustainable policies and guidelines of the European Commission is one of prior objectives of this study. Consequently the research objective is to present the realities along Corridor Eight areas in relation to sustainable indicators.
Finally, this study will endeavour to feature the best performing experiences and attempt to suggest the most beneficial solutions towards sustainable development in the societies along the countries of Corridor Eight.